Water and Politics: Clientelism and Reform in Urban Mexico

by Veronica Herrera

Overview

Most of the world’s population lives in cities in developing countries, where access to basic public services, such as water, electricity, and health clinics, is either inadequate or sorely missing. Water and Politics shows how politicians benefit politically from manipulating public service provision for electoral gain. In many young democracies, politicians exchange water service for votes or political support, rewarding allies or punishing political enemies. Surprisingly, the political problem of water provision has become more pronounced, as water service represents a valuable political currency in resource-scarce environments.

Water and Politics finds that middle-class and industrial elites play an important role in generating pressure for public service reforms.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780472904341
Publisher:	University of Michigan Press
Publication date:	11/29/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	276
Sales rank:	776,795
File size:	595 KB

About the Author

Veronica Herrera is a Political Scientist and Assistant Professor at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, Urban Planning.

Table of Contents

Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments List of Acronyms 1. Public Services after Democratization and Decentralization 2. Accounting for Reform in the Mexican Urban Water Sector 3. Water and Particularistic Politics in Urban Mexico: A Historical Overview 4. Reform Adoption in León and Irapuato: Policy Insulation through Broad Elite Incorporation 5. Reform Adoption in Naucalpan and Celaya: Policy Insulation through Narrow Elite Incorporation 6. Reform Failure in Toluca and Xalapa: Ad Hoc Solutions and Gradual Services Decay 7. Reform Failure in Neza and Veracruz: Repurposed Clientelism and Acute Services Decay 8. Politics, Time Horizons, and the Global Water Crisis Appendix A: Measurement Discussion and Additional Data Appendix B: List of Interviews References Index

Editorial Reviews

“Fills a gap in the literature on reform by solving a puzzle not explained in previous research, which has tended to focus on the role of crisis, ideology, robust citizen networks, strong leadership, and electoral competition . . . Recommended”
—Choice Reviews


“Water and Politics brings new empirical insight and understanding about the provision of public services through the experience of water and sanitation reforms in Mexico following democratization. Its analysis is relevant for academics, policymakers, government leaders, and development practitioners alike.”
—Environment Urbanization

“Herrera has written an important book. It illuminates a crucial and hitherto undiscovered dynamic in a crucial policy domain.”
—Latin American Politics and Society

 
“A refreshing effort to unravel the issue of why young democracies can bring about either modern, accountable, and effective governments or deficient, unreliable, and clientelistic ones.”
—Perspectives on Politics
 

“While few studies have examined how public services—water and sanitation especially—become part of clientelistic and patronage based relationships, this book offers an enriching understanding of the key factors that shape these relationships.”
—Journal of Developmental Studies

From the Publisher

Winner: American Political Science Association (APSA) 2018 Dennis Judd Best Book Award

APSA Dennis Judd Best Book Award